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U.S. SUES BROTECH FOR AIR VIOLATIONS AT PUROLITE PLANT

Release Date: 5/15/2000
Contact Information: David Sternberg (215) 814-5548

David Sternberg, 215-814-5548

PHILADELPHIA – The federal government has sued Brotech Corporation for numerous Clean Air Act violations at the company’s Purolite division plant in north Philadelphia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

The federal court complaint, filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Philadelphia, alleges that the Bala Cynwyd-based company violated air pollution control regulations at its Purolite manufacturing plant at 3620 ‘G’ Street in north Philadelphia. Purolite manufactures resins that are used in industrial water purification systems.

According to the complaint, an investigation by EPA and Philadelphia’s Air Management Services documented violations of federal, state, and city regulations on emissions of smog-producing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

“This case clearly shows that we will use our legal authority to fight smog and protect the ozone layer,” said EPA Regional Administrator Bradley Campbell.

Campbell noted that the Philadelphia metropolitan area is classified as a “non-attainment” area for smog under the Clean Air Act, which requires government and businesses to adopt more stringent air pollution control measures.

The complaint describes violations of several federal and state regulations designed to reduce emissions of VOCs, CFCs, and other air pollutants. Specifically, the complaint alleges:

* failure to install state-of-the-art pollution control technology as part of major equipment upgrades in the 1990s, and failure to purchase emission offsets.

Purolite...P2
May 15, 2000

* excessive VOC emissions and violations of VOC leak detection and repair regulations, including requirements for the monitoring, repair and reporting of VOC leaks from plant equipment.

* violations of work practice standards designed to cut discharges of ozone-destroying CFCs into the atmosphere. The complaint alleges that the plant did not have certified CFC recovery and recycling devices for use during maintenance of equipment with CFC-containing refrigerants.

* failure to obtain installation and operation permits for certain factory equipment, and violation of permit limits on air pollution for VOCs, on production limits, and on other process parameters.

The company has the right to contest the alleged violations and any proposed penalties.





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